DSLR Camera Focusing Tips for Beginners
New to DSLR photography and want a good basic lesson in focusing? This video by Phil Steele gives a good introduction to five different focusing techniques.
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29 Responses to “DSLR Camera Focusing Tips for Beginners” - Add Yours
August 24th, 2012 at 7:15 am
Very well presented video. Clear and concise. I particularly like the view through the camera as he talked. It should be done more often.
August 24th, 2012 at 8:32 am
This was a fantastic video! So helpful. I also appreciated the camera view of what we’d see to help make things a little more understandable with the demo. Thanks!
August 24th, 2012 at 9:20 am
One of the most helpful tutorials for me! thanks! The explanation of contrast in the camera finding focus explains so much. Makes so much sense, yet I never thought of it..
August 24th, 2012 at 11:48 am
Great Video..Thanks.
August 24th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Back button focusing would be much easier than the Manual focus part.
August 24th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
I’m speechless. He just taught me three things about my camera I never knew!!
August 24th, 2012 at 5:18 pm
Thanks a lot Darren, very helpful!
May I add that in a situation like the sports car photography, one could also use the Af-on button mode for focusing, that allows to focus using the thumb and when released, the focus is locked. This could be helpful if you need to readjust, without having to go on and out manual mode.
Thanks again for the great tips!
August 25th, 2012 at 12:30 am
Hi
I really enjoy watching Phil’s videos, they are well put together and often have one or two new gems of information.
Sometimes manual focus works best especially in low light conditions such as this shot from inside The Vatican of St Peters Chair! The camera is just too clever for its own good on Auto!
http://kerstenbeckphotoart.wordpress.com/2012/08/24/saint-peters-chair/
August 25th, 2012 at 12:35 am
I learned more in those 9 mins than reading or watching other videos for twice that long. Great hands on examples and very easy to understand!
August 25th, 2012 at 4:23 am
Great info. I love all of the articles here! Now I have to sit here for a few more hours until I can go to Disney World and try these out!
http://www.livingdisney.com/2012/08/photographs-of-week-820-826-2012.html
August 25th, 2012 at 5:11 am
I am an lifelong serious amateur and this video taught me a new technique I had not tried with the live view mode. Fantastic!
I still do not know how to overcome dim light focus situations though… when it is dark, or near dark. Anyone with solutions to the inability for the camera to hunt and find a focus point? I shoot with a 7D and this situation always stymies me.
August 26th, 2012 at 7:33 am
Thank you so much for this. I have just given myself a promotion from a point and shoot (fuji HS10) to the Canon 60D so the fact you were using Canon helped too. I have been asked to take action shots for a friend at her show jumping practises so this has taught me a lot in how to get that perfect shot without relying on auto focus. Thanks
August 28th, 2012 at 12:06 am
Great video, though I must agree with Abe – using a back AF button can be very helpful for recomposing.
I often choose to totally disable “autofocus start” function of the shutter release button. Instead I leave it to the back AF button (cameras like 5D have a separate button for it, cheaper models let you use the “*” button for this – just see the C.Fn. menus”, so, I press it to get the focus, and then just recompose as much as I want, until I (or the model) change position.
August 29th, 2012 at 11:07 pm
While it seems good focus is a rather obvious need for good images, all too often people tend to miss this part. Great video and perfect for those just starting out.
August 30th, 2012 at 9:15 am
Great video. lately though I am finding that my images are not in focus even when using Auto Focus. Any suggestions besides manually focusing everything?
August 31st, 2012 at 2:12 am
Simply great, fantastic. I learned features that are not in my owners manual or any of the many book I have read. Thanks very much Darren.
August 31st, 2012 at 4:30 am
Brilliant video and very helpful. There’s a lot of very helpful information / reminders in these 9 minutes for both the beginner and the more experienced photographer.
August 31st, 2012 at 7:23 am
i’m with 1107Photography. i was saying to myself ‘oh, he’s a pro and i already know this’ until the live view focus tip – how awesome! i, too, would love to know of some tips for dimly lit situations.
great vid, thanks for posting, darren!
August 31st, 2012 at 8:02 am
Patricia, what camera are you using? If you are focusing through the viewfinder you need to make sure that the focus point or points you can see in the viewfinder are pointed at a surface or surfaces with features. They need some contrast to work with. Depending on the camera and the particular focus point, some work better with horizontal lines while others work with vertical lines. Try pointing the camera at a blank wall or a blue sky. The AF system will hunt because there is nothing to focus on. Then switch to a patterned surface and experiment with the individual focus points.
I have a Canon Eos 550d (T2i). It’s One shot AF mode is nearly useless whereas the AI Focus and AI Servo modes work fairly nicely (not quite as good as Live View manual focusing). The focus system changes in Live View mode because the processor in the camera analyzes the image to maximize the contrast in the focus area by adjusting the lens. Keep experimenting since the only cost is a little bit of time. Good luck!
August 31st, 2012 at 9:12 am
Thank you for the reply eosdave. I have a Canon Ti1. My camera used to focus well. At first I thought it was my eyes (i’ve worn glasses for years.) I usually use the viewfinder and move my focus points where I need them. But my pictures still are not sharp. Even when using prime lens. Its really frustrating.
August 31st, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Good tips. Thanks. I’ve got a Rickenbacker just like that.
August 31st, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Excellent!
September 1st, 2012 at 6:37 pm
Excellent video and so easily explained. Thank you Phil
September 4th, 2012 at 7:20 am
Great job Phil. I shoot with a Sony a390, a Lumix LX5 and a Canon Powershot and still consider myself a rank amateur. You made this very easy to understand. I’m sure a lot of us think we know more than we do. The KISS theory is still true, Keep It Simple Stupid.
September 14th, 2012 at 8:12 am
I really appreciated this video.. I had to go to his site to check out more. Very helpful!
September 15th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Another great video by Phil. I recently purchased his portrait course and it is incredible what I have learned in a short period of time. The videos make it much easier to understand than just reading about it.
January 23rd, 2013 at 6:26 pm
This is very helpful. I’ve always wondered if using Manual Focus on action shots/movement shots caused the quality of the photo to deplete. I have to try this but this was so helpful. Thanks!
March 29th, 2013 at 2:08 pm
Great tutorial. The best tip for me was setting the focus for fast moving objects using auto and manual focus.
Thanks Phil and Darren
April 27th, 2013 at 2:25 am
Thanks for this video, even though I’ve been photographing for many years I’m still learning, and this video was very helpful.
Thanks again
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